Islamic State militants

ASHGABAT, June 9. /TASS/. The defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria will discuss strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorist organizations Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra (both banned in Russia) in Tehran, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday.

"Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu has flown to Iran on a working visit. At Tehran, the Russian defense minister will hold three-party talks with the defense ministers of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is planned to discuss priority measures on strengthening cooperation between the three defense ministries in the fight with terrorist groups ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - former name of IS) and Jebhat al-Nusra," Antonov told reporters.

Shoigu will also hold several bilateral meetings in Tehran, including with Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan and Syrian Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij. He will discuss with them issues of regional security, as well as of military and military-technical cooperation, Antonov explained.

"In the framework of the Russian defense minister’s visit to Tehran, a meeting between Army General Sergey Shoigu and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani is planned," the deputy defense minister noted.